MANILA (PNA) --The man who manned the corner of Rustico Torrecampo when the obscure fighter knocked out the then up and coming Manny Pacquiao 17 years ago cautioned the Filipino ring icon against carelessness when he fights American Brandon Rios in Macau.

“Manny should watch out and not make the mistake he committed against (Juan Manuel) Marquez last December,” Tambong del Rosario, a boxing trainer who called the shots when Torrecampo stopped the then practically greenhorn Pacquiao in the third round on February 9, 1996 in Mandaluyong City, said in Tagalog.

Tembong refuses to believe though that the eight-division world champion is slowing down and on the way out, saying Pacquiao, who is turning 35 this December still has what it takes to be champion again and regains the top spot in the world pound-for-pound list.

“Ok pa si Manny. Kelangan lang niya mag-concentrate at maging serious sa ensayo. Not that he had not been serious in his preparations in previous fights, but sabi nga, he’s not getting any younger at ang makakalaban niya bata pa,” he assessed.

Tembong also believes the Pacquiao-Rios fight promises to be a very interesting showdown because the American’s style seems fit to the Filipino’s. “The fight could turn out to be what we call in boxing a slambang affair. Buntalan at bakbakang umaatikabo. Kung sino unang tumama panalo.”

“Reports from Rios’ camp sound like he’s preparing hard. Si Manny nagsisimula pa lang, but it’s still early and knowing him, he will be able to catch up.,” he said. “Manny should start early and cautiously.“